Oyo pupils set classrooms ablaze over failure October 28, 2016

There was breach of the peace at the Isale-Oyo Community High School, Oyo town, after some pupils of the college reportedly set ablaze some classrooms over mass failure in their examination. It was learnt that the aggrieved pupils stormed the school premises on Thursday morning charting solidarity songs. They were said to have gone haywire afterwards, set fire to blocks of classrooms and fled the premises. The PUNCH gathered that the school authorities alerted men of the Oyo State Fire Service, who responded swiftly to put out the fire. Policemen were deployed in the school to restore peace but none of the pupils had been arrested as of the time of filing this report. The disturbance, observers noted, marked the worst phase of the unrest that began days ago over mass failure in exams. The school compound was deserted as teachers and other pupils reportedly fled for fear of being harmed. Our correspondents learnt that there had been lingering crises since Monday in some secondary schools in the state following mass failure in the last promotion examinations. The Oyo State Government has set a new promotion policy which states that only pupils with 50 per cent in Mathematics and English language will transit to the next class. Pupils of Anglican Secondary School in Oyo reportedly unleashed mayhem on their teachers and destroyed billboards bearing Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s picture. The Oyo State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Banji Olowofela, lamented poor performance of pupils in external examinations, saying public schools could no longer continue to breed substandard pupils. “What government says is that there is no automatic promotion again. Our external examinations from1999 till date have been abysmally poor. If we push them to the outside world, we are not helping them. We are trying to give them the opportunity to rediscover themselves. The school has been closed indefinitely,” he added

My manhood was too big for her –Okada rider nabbed for raping girl to coma in Benue September 24, 2016

On Wednesday, the arm of the law caught up with an okada rider identified simply as Daniel in Otukpo, Benue State, after he allegedly raped an eight-year-old girl in his room on Ogiri Okoh Street, to a point where the girl became unconscious. Saturday PUNCH learnt that vigilantes from Igbanonmaje arrested the suspect after the girl’s mother learnt of the incident. It was learnt that after the girl became unconscious, the suspect poured water on her to resuscitate her, after which he sent her home. A resident of the street on which the victim’s mother lived, said the girl explained that Daniel forced himself on her after he had told her to help him buy food. The resident said the mother became suspicious when the girl came back home, walking with her legs apart. The victim’s mother was said to have raised the alarm, after the girl said Daniel inserted his manhood in her and did not know anything again. “She said by the time she woke up in his room, he saw the man pouring water on her,” the resident told Saturday PUNCH. After vigilantes in the area were reportedly alerted, they went in search of Daniel and arrested him a few hours later. The suspect, a native of Ado Local Government Area of the state, said even though he had tried to rape the girl, he left her alone because he could not penetrate her. “Because my manhood was too big for her, I could not penetrate and had to leave her alone,” he told the vigilantes. He however denied raping the girl to the point of coma. Saturday PUNCH was told that Daniel had been handed over to the police. The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mr. Moses Yamu, confirmed the incident, stating that the victim was now in police custody. He said investigation was till ongoing on the case

Hoodlums set ex-Rivers lawmaker’s house ablaze

Hoodlums on Wednesday night burnt down the house of a former lawmaker, Dr. Chidi Lloyd, in Akpabu community, Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State. It was learned that the development had caused panic in the community, as the incident was said to have happened less than 24 hours before an Appeal Court upheld the election of Sam Ogeh, the former lawmaker’s opponent in the March 19, 2016 State House of Assembly rerun election. While Lloyd, who was the former Leader of the State House of Assembly contested on the platform of the All Progressives Alliance, Ogeh vied for the election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party. The PUNCH learned that the hoodlums, who wore military camouflage, invaded Lloyd’s home at 8pm and set ablaze some aspects of his building. A community source, Mr. Chijioke (surname withheld), disclosed that the arsonists invaded the community and caused anxiety with heavy gunfire. Chijioke noted that the security quarters and the visitors’ lodge were burnt by the hoodlums, whose identity are yet unknown. He said that property worth millions of naira at the guest house and in the security building were burnt. The source further said it was the swift intervention of security operatives in the area that prevented the arsonists from attacking the main building. The source said, “The building of former leader of Rivers State House of Assembly, Chidi Lloyd, has been burnt by unknown persons. The security room and the boys’ quarters were burnt. They did not touch the main building.” Meanwhile, Lloyd has confirmed the attack on his house. He said that a group of men in military camouflage invaded his house and set it ablaze. He explained that he had earlier received a threat message by a person suspected to be a cult member before the arson. Speaking on the matter, the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Francis Odesanya, said the incident was caused by fire, adding that the main building was not burnt.

We’ll resist sale of national assets – NLC

The Nigeria Labour Congress has called on Nigerians to resist the planned sale of the nation’s shareholdings in the Nigeria Liquified Natural Gas and other national assets. The President of the NLC, Mr. Ayuba Wabba, said in a statement on Thursday that Nigerians must resist the surreptitious moves by some businessmen and the political class to acquire the remaining national assets which he said should be preserved in the interest of future generations. He said the NLC was prepared to join forces with other progressive movements in the country to resist the current moves to plunder the nation’s assets. He said it was in the interest of generations of Nigerians for the existing investments to be developed by investing in profitable areas. Wabba said the NLC was totally opposed to the recent calls by Africa’s richest man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, and the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, for the sale of national assets to get the country out of recession. He said, “The recent call by Alhaji Aliko Dangote for the sale of the national share holdings in the NLNG and the suggestion by the Senate President that the shares, along with other sovereign assets in the oil and aviation sectors, should be sold as a way of stemming the current economic recession are unacceptable to us at the Nigeria Labour Congress. “Investments in the LNLG and joint venture oil upstream operations are profitable and represent potential sources of revenue into the future. “Inter-generational considerations require that we build on these existing investments by identifying other profitable endeavours to invest in. What we need is to leverage on the stream of potential earnings from these investments in seeking to turn around the economy. “We, therefore, call on Nigerians to resist these new schemings by those waiting and wishing to lap up these lucrative national assets. We need to preserve these assets for our children and future generations. “On our part, we are ready, in partnership with other progressive and nationalist forces in our country, to resist the further attempt to plunder our common patrimony.

Nigeria needs progressive economic policies – Sanusi

A former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has said that the country needs policies that will boost economic growth. Sanusi spoke in Lagos on Wednesday at the public presentation of Funmi Oyetunji’s book, ‘A Conscious Life’. “We need to think through what we do and on the bigger picture too by coming up with policies that will lead us to where we simply want to go,” he said. The emir, who was recently in Rome for Pope Francis’ meeting with religious leaders and refugees on the occasion of the Assisi Peace Day, also stated that most of the religious crises being experienced in the country and the world at large had roots in poor economic policies and bad governance. “Being an economist, my perspective has always been that a lot of the problems we think are religious do have roots in bad economics and bad policies that create poverty and therefore lead to conflicts,” he said. The Chief Executive Officer, Stanbic IBTC Holdings, Mrs. Sola David-Borha, said that beyond the personal usefulness of the book, it was a call on state governments to create wealth rather than depend on statutory allocations. She added that it was also a call on the relevant authorities to open up the country’s financial market with minimal restrictions on the entry and exit of funds. “Our market should be able to create wealth in a sustainable manner. If we focus on wealth creation rather than sharing of money, we will be able to put the nation on the trajectory of growth,” she said. The former Chairman of Punch Nigeria Limited, Chief Ajibola Ogunshola, who wrote the foreword of the book, said a lot of research went into its production. “I am amazed at the volume of research that went into the production of the book,” he said. The author, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of Abitos Financial Services, said the book was a call on the nation and its people to become more conscious on both social and personal issues. “It is a clarion call for people to be awake in living their lives and not just to go by the flow. The inspiration came from counselling young people and seeing that there are no clear directions on how most of them are living their lives. For those who read, they should be able to rea

We’ll solve N’Delta problem soon – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday assured Barack Obama, the American President, that Nigeria was making steady progress towards resolving the Niger Delta region problem, which had led to economic sabotage on a grand scale. This, the News Agency of Nigeria reported that this was contained in a statement issued by Mr. Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity. Adesina said the President gave the assurance at a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the ongoing 71st edition of the UN General Assembly, holding in New York. “We are making definite progress on how many factions of the militant groups exist, their leadership and operational basis, and we have equally sought the cooperation of the oil majors. “In a short while, I believe the issues would be resolved,’’ Buhari said. He thanked the USA for assisting Nigeria in the provision of weapons, training for Nigerian troops, and sharing of intelligence, which had led to the degradation of the Boko Haram sect in the North-East. Buhari said the country was open to support in combating the humanitarian crisis currently ravaging the region. He said the farming season was good in 2016, with the prospect of a good harvest, and “Nigeria is on the road to food self-sufficiency soon. “We shall be able to feed ourselves, and utilise the billions of dollars spent on importing food on other productive areas.’’ The President reiterated that his administration came to power on the tripod promises of security, battle against corruption, and revamping of the economy. He stressed that there would be no let-up in fulfilling those electoral promises. Responding, Obama described Buhari as a man of “integrity and honesty,’’ saying “we have confidence in your leadership. “There are some difficulties you face, but this administration is willing to assist in the short time we have left. “You have made real progress in defeating the brutal organisation called the Boko Haram sect and that was achieved because of your leadership.’’ Obama offered a hand of fellowship to Nigeria “in the final and comprehensive defeat of Boko Haram, the resolution of the Niger Delta crisis, which would help ramp up oil production and increase revenue, resolving the humanitarian crisis in the North-East, recovering stolen money, and revamping the economy.’’

Banks to close branches as recession bites hard September 20, 2016

A number of Deposit Money Banks in the country will close many of what they described as unprofitable branches as the economic recession continues to bite harder, investigation by our correspondent has shown. It was similarly gathered that most of the banks would lay off hundreds of workers between now and December. The revelation came barely 24 hours after Unity Bank Plc laid off about 300 workers, more than the 220 that was mentioned last week. Diamond Bank Plc, Ecobank and Skye Bank Plc had earlier in the year sacked over 3,000 members of their workforce. It was learnt that following the economic downturn in the country, a number of bank branches could no longer justify their existence as cost analysis had shown that the financial institutions were spending more on salaries and overheads than the income from the branches. Some top bank executives, who confirmed the development to our correspondent under the condition of anonymity on Monday, said some lenders might be forced to relieve more workers of their duties before the end of this year. An executive director in one of the banks that recently asked some of its workers to go said, “We have laid off some of our staff members but that it still not enough. Many branches are just existing for the sake of being there. They are not generating enough income. What they are bringing in is far less than what the bank is incurring as costs on them. “We may have to close such branches before the year ends. I know a number of other banks that are planning something similar.” Commenting on the development, an ex-banker and Chief Executive Officer, Cowry Asset Management Limited, Mr. Johnson Chukwu, described branch closure as an ongoing action in the banking sector, especially in times of economic downturn. He, however, noted that banks were required to notify the Central Bank of Nigeria before closing any branch. “It is an ongoing administrative thing in the banking industry. Banks will want to rationalise branches, especially in a difficult economy. Banks are planning to cut costs. Branch rationalisation is normal but the CBN has to be notified,” Chukwu explained. The banking sector has been facing a number of challenges following the downturn in economic activities. The slowdown in the economy, which has led to a high rate of non-performing loans in the banking system, made four lenders to lose at least N17bn in profits in the first quarter of this year. Specifically, Ecobank Transnational Incorporated, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, Unity Bank Plc and Diamond Bank Plc recorded a combined decline of N17bn in their profits before tax for the three months ended March 31, 2016, when compared with the corresponding period of 2015, according to the results of the financial institutions posted on the website of the Nigerian Stock Exchange. When compared with the PBT of N30.52bn, N32.65bn, N4.26bn and N7.94bn recorded by the banks in the first quarter of 2015, the combined PBT of the four banks dropped by N17bn from N75.4bn in the first quarter of last year to N58.4bn in the same period of this year. While Ecobank’s PBT fell from N30.52bn in the first quarter of 2015 to N20.63bn in a similar period of this year, GTBank’s dropped from N32.65bn to N30.68bn. That of Unity Bank dropped from N4.26bn to N1.05bn, while Diamond Bank’s came down from N7.94bn to N6.04bn. In terms of their profit after tax, the four banks recorded a decline of N14bn. Banks in the country had been posting sharp increases in profits before tax and profits after tax since 2011 after the establishment of the Asset Management of Corporation of Nigeria in 2010 following the banking sector crisis in 2009. However, consistent drop in the global prices of crude oil, Nigeria’s main foreign exchange earner, since June 2014, caused banks’ profits to start declining at the end of 2015. Majority of the 15 banks listed on the NSE recorded declines in their full-year profits in the 2015 financial year. However, a few ones such as Access Bank Plc, Zenith Bank Plc, United Bank for Africa Plc and GTBank outperformed the market despite sizeable volume of bad loans. In the first quarter of 2016, 13 out of the 15 banks posted a combined PBT of N135.36bn, compared to N148bn in the corresponding period of last year. Similarly, the 13 banks posted profits after tax of N116.6bn in the first quarter of 2016, compared to N126.4bn in the first quarter of 2015. The 13 banks are Access Bank Plc, Diamond Bank Plc, Ecobank Transnational Incorporated, First Bank of Nigeria Limited, GTBank, FCMB Limited, Sterling Bank Plc, Fidelity Bank Plc, UBA Plc, Unity Bank, Wema Bank Plc, Union Bank Plc and Zenith Bank Plc. Skye Bank Plc and Stanbic IBTC Bank have yet to release their full-year 2015 and first-quarter 2016 financial results. An economic analyst and Head, Investment Advisory, Afrinvest West Africa Limited, Mr. Ayodeji Ebo, said the declining profit in the financial services sector was a reflection of the challenges facing the Nigerian economy

I’ll produce 100 millionaires in four years – Obaseki September 20, 2016

The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said he will produce 100 millionaires in the state in four years, if elected as governor. Obaseki, who spoke on Monday during an interactive session with a group, Grassroots Youth Initiative, in the Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area, explained that with the presence of natural resources, the residents had no reason to be poor. He said, “God has blessed us in Edo. No state is like Edo. We do not have any reason to be poor; the only reason why we are poor is because of bad leadership. With good leadership, the sky is our limit. “So, the first thing I am going to emphasise in employment is to register the unemployed because we have employed a lot of people in the last eight years.” He disclosed that the state government would encourage the unemployed youth in agriculture through the inauguration of an agricultural scheme known as the anchor programme. “We are inaugurating our programme on agriculture called the anchor programme. Edo has been selected for oil palm, rubber, cassava, maize, livestock, poultry and fishery. Government is going to support all you want to do.” He, however, noted that the process of wealth creation required the cooperation of all residents, especially as they go to the poll next Wednesday. “Alone, I cannot do it; I need all of you to support the project to make it work, so that by the time we come here, almost everybody will be gainfully and skilfully employed. “We have done a research in government. I do not want to be a governor where people fight to be senior special assistants before they can buy cars. “I want to be a governor that will produce 100 millionaires after four years. That is my goal, so that at the end my tenure, the people will truly lead because they will be empowered.” Obaseki, who also received the support of the group led by its President, Mr. Osarobo Idahosa, added,”If you have your PVC, on September 28, you all should come out and vote for the APC.”

The riches of ‘Mama Peace’ September 19, 2016

How much is Patience Jonathan worth? You can keep your guess. Here is mine: Goodluck Jonathan does not know. Some people say, he dares not ask, but that is just hearsay. What is important is: Patience has a general, and better idea. General because it is one thing to invite a bank to your presence and open several accounts, it is another to be able to swear as to how much is actually in which account. According to emerging accounts, pardon the pun, on March 22, 2010, Mrs. Jonathan opened four accounts at Skye Bank. Actually, the bank, shepherded by one of her husband’s all-purpose “special advisers”, appeared in her presence to open the accounts. His name: Waripamo Dudafa. At the time, he carried the powerful label of “Special Adviser on Domestic Affairs” to Mr. Jonathan. He it was who led to Mrs. Jonathan at home, two senior officers of Skye Bank: Demola Bolodeoku and Dipo Oshodi. Her husband was Nigeria’s Acting President; in 43 days he would become President. When you are as powerful as Mrs. Jonathan was, you do not go to the bank. And so the bank came to Mrs. Jonathan. Mission: to open five accounts for the First Lady. People worldwide have been asking one question since this story broke: What kind of person opens five accounts in one bank in one day? It is probably a silly question, but I will provide the answer: it is the kind of person who has, or is expecting more money than will fit into one account! Anyhow, these are the facts we know. It however seems that Mrs. Jonathan, who had the accounts opened in her presence, perhaps as she got her pedicure done or gave commands on the phone, somehow “discovered” that “Derring-Do” Dudafa had opened only one of the accounts in the name of the most powerful woman who ever ate eba with her right hand. Yes: despite Mrs. Jonathan personally, and with that same right hand and an expensive pen signing the five accounts that night as Dr. Dame Chief (Mrs). Patience Fakabelema Jonathan, Mr. Derring-Do—in the equivalent of signing your own death warrant—allegedly opened not one, not two, not three but four, in the names of his own companies. In other words, we have to suppose that all of the funds that Mrs. Jonathan laboured so hard for before and during her First Ladyship, went to Mr. Dudafa four-fifths of the time. It is unclear exactly when Dudafa performed on Mrs. Jonathan the dastardly bait and switch the “umblerah” party had perfected. It is even less clear exactly when Mrs. Jonathan found out. She may blame her husband. Mr. Jonathan it was who early in 2014 appointed into the governorship of the Central Bank of Nigeria, one Godwin Emefiele. But even though Patience had once declared as “brain-dead” Muhammadu Buhari, the man who would succeed her husband in office, Buhari somehow contrived to keep in office the said governor. And Emefiele it was who superintended the Bank Verification Number (BVN) exercise in 2014, which is how the EFCC entered the story, leading to some account freezes. And that, we assume, is how the news came to Mrs. Jonathan one day in that month: her high-value medical accounts of about $15 million (US) had been frozen. By the EFCC. That is news bad enough to make anyone wet their bed. Not Mama Peace. Instituting a legal challenge, she affirmed that each and every dollar in the accounts in question was hers. $15m in “medical” money. I have always said that the BVN exercise was fraudulent. Were it honest, the government would have since the first few months of 2014 trapped so many wealthy Nigerians in their own vomit this country would have changed, no pun intended. Okay, I know her husband insisted that stealing was no corruption, but think about it: Mrs. Jonathan is the first Politically Exposed Person to be openly—but only accidentally—linked with one of those huge chunks of funny money. Last Thursday, the case became even more fascinating, as the four companies involved pleaded guilty to money-laundering. Some housekeeping: For those who are neither old nor literate enough, Mrs. Jonathan and I are old acquaintances in this column. It is nearly 10 years and 10 days since the EFCC seized from her the astounding sum of $13.5 million dollars, and accused her of money-laundering, the second such charge within one month. Earlier, brandishing a court order, the agency had frozen N104 million she allegedly tried to launder. At the time, Mr. Jonathan was the governor of Bayelsa State. Nonetheless, as the EFCC bustled off to the Federal High Court in Abuja, I fully expected Mrs. Jonathan to end up in jail. But despite all of the grandstanding, Mrs. Jonathan was not prosecuted. As a matter of fact, it would appear that the EFCC quietly withdrew the cases and returned the confiscated funds to her, perhaps with a written apology. The agency never offered an official report or explanation. Back in the news 10 years later, Mrs. Jonathan, conveniently out of the country at the moment, wants back $15m she refers to as her medical money. The authorities also found $5m in another account in her name after the first story broke. She responded with a N200m “fundamental rights enforcement” action against Skye Bank Plc for giving to the EFCC information that was then “used to inconvenience and embarrass” her. I believe Mrs. Jonathan has done Nigeria a big favour by claiming that the funds belong to her. She should therefore be given the money, all of it. First, however, she must establish how she earned it. Let us remember: she does have a track record, including those 2006 EFCC seizures. It is also on record that in its report on the 2007 election, the American Council on Foreign Relations described Mrs. Jonathan as the “greediest person in Bayelsa State.” Greed: If she opened five accounts in one night while her husband was Acting President, how many did she have when she was establishing that reputation as Bayelsa’s worst, and how many when he became President? Mrs. Jonathan is said to own Yenagoa’s Arisdorf N10billion Resort Wellness and Spa. She has also been linked with a string of other properties, especially in Abuja, including the sprawling high-end but currently abandoned estate in Kado-Kuchi. This is an opportunity not only for her to recover her so-called medical allowance, but her soiled reputation. I am reminded of her thanksgiving service in Aso Rock in February 2013 when she confessed she had nearly died in hospital in Germany. She said she suffered through eight or nine surgeries in one month, and had spent seven days in some sort of coma. She then pledged to embark on “things that will touch the lives of the less privileged…[as God] gave me a second chance because I [died]…” In my comment, I challenged Mrs. Jonathan to show proof of her pledge. Three years later, we have only evidence of astounding wealth she suggests she is entitled to, in the midst of extreme poverty. The question is: who is going to ensure justice, not rhetoric?

Buhari, VP, ministers, lawmakers, others earn N9.18bn yearly September 19, 2016

Twelve months after the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission pledged to give the nation reviewed salaries and allowances for political office holders, lawmakers and key government officials still cart home about N9.18bn annually in salaries and allowances. Investigation show that while RMAFC had completed work on the review of the emoluments of political office holders about November 2015, the new emoluments have not seen the light of the day due to the politics involved in the process. As a result, key political office holders still earn the full packages they earned before the decision to reduce the earnings of political and judicial office holders. The annualised salary and allowances of the president is N14,058,820, while that of the vice-president is N12,126,290. President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo had announced their decision to take only 50 per cent of the salary and allowances approved for them, meaning that they take home N7,029,410 and N6,063,145 respectively. However, most of the allowances and entitlements of the President and Vice-President are not monetised but fully provided by the state. Apart from salary, the regular allowances that are monetised for the President are only hardship allowance, N1,757,350.50 per annum; and consistency allowance, N8,786,762.50 per annum. For the Vice-President, the hardship allowance is N1,515,786.25 per annum, while the consistency allowance is N7, 578,931.25 per annum. The irregular allowances for the President are the severance allowance – 300 per cent of the annual salary or N10,544,115 – and leave allowance – 10 per cent of the annual salary or N351,470.50. The irregular allowances of the Vice-President are the severance allowance – 300 per cent of the annual salary or N9, 094,717.50 – and leave allowance – 10 per cent of the annual salary or N303,157.25. Other allowances that the President and the Vice-President are supposed to enjoy which are not provided in monetary terms include motor vehicle fuelling and maintenance, special assistants, and personal assistants. Others are domestic staff, entertainment, utilities, security and newspapers/periodical allowances. These irregular allowances include accommodation, furniture, duty tour, estacode, medical, and severance/gratuity. For a senator, the salary and allowances add up to N20,669,280 per annum. Those of a member of the House of Representatives add up to N17,271,347.75. There are 109 senators and 360 representatives. With the exception of the Senate President, the Deputy Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and his deputy whose allowances are provided by the state, lawmakers get a total of N8,397,965,454.5. For a minister, the salary and allowances add up to N14,705,164 while those of presidential aide add up to N14,085,843.75. The Head of Service and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation are on the same salaries and allowances. There are 36 ministers and 15 presidential aides. Their annual emoluments add up to N770,083,888.25. RMAFC had in June 2015 set in motion the process for the downward review of the existing salaries and allowances of political, public and judicial office holders when it set up a committee chaired by Mr. Abdullahi Inde. At the inauguration, returning Chairman of RMAFC, Mr. Elias Mbam, had urged the committee to be conscious of the prevailing economic situation and the need to reduce cost of governance so as to free more funds for development. The current remuneration of public office holders is guided by the Remuneration Act of 2008. A review became imperative following dwindling government revenues occasioned by falling prices in the international oil market. However, investigation showed that when Mbam left the commission following the completion of his first tenure in November 2015, the acting Chairman of RMAFC, Mr. Umar Gana, made a number of attempts to present the new packages to President Buhari but failed. “The acting chairman could not get the green light from the Villa to present the remuneration package to the President,” an authoritative source told our correspondent. “That is why the new salary structure has been stalled. The law requires that the President must get the recommendation from RMAFC who would table it before the Federal Executive Council for ratification. Then, it is presented to the National Assembly.” The current allowances of lawmakers are in categories. Some are tagged regular allowances while others are tagged irregular allowances. Regular allowances are those that are paid on monthly basis along with the monthly salaries while irregular allowances are paid at other frequencies ranging from annual to once in four years. There are also other allowances not included in this calculation that are paid not at any fixed periods but as many times as they occur in the year. The allowances are calculated as percentages of the annual salaries. While some are higher than the annual salaries; others are lower. Basically, both senators and Reps are paid the same percentages of their salaries as allowances except in constituency allowance where senators are paid 250 per cent while Reps are 100 per cent. Vehicle maintenance and fuelling alliance is 75 per cent; domestic staff, 75 per cent; entertainment, 30 per cent; utilities, 30 per cent; wardrobe, 25 per cent; newspapers, 15 per cent; house maintenance, five per cent; and personal assistants, 25 per cent. The irregular allowances include housing allowance, 200 per cent of their annual salaries; furniture allowance, 300 per cent; recess allowance, 10 per cent and severance allowance, 300 per cent. Housing allowance is paid once a year. Furniture allowance is paid once in four years and recess allowance is paid when the lawmakers are on recess and they go on recess four times in a year. Severance allowance is at the end of the four-year tenure. There are other allowances that the lawmakers are not paid directly but provided and paid for by the government. These are special assistants, security and legislative aides. What this means is that those engaged in these capacities are paid directly by the government as the allowances cannot be claimed by political office holders. These allowances apply to senators and Reps. Medical expenses are also borne by the government when they have need for the services. The lawmakers are also entitled to tour duty allowance, estacode (when they travel).For a senator, the tour duty allowance is N37, 000 per night; the estacode is $950 per night. For a member of the House of Representatives, the tour duty allowance is N35, 000 per night; while estacode is $900 per night. Ministers and presidential aides also enjoy similar allowances. Experts, however, are not worried by the official earnings of political office holders but by the unofficial ones. Lawmakers, for instance, are said to get some quarterly payment

Edo State election must go on-INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission has said that it would not postpone Saturday’s governorship election in Edo State for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination scheduled to hold on the same day. The National Chairman of the commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed this during a stakeholders’ meeting held in Benin, the state capital. A total of 1,742 candidates are expected to sit Mathematics 1 and 2 papers on September 10, a development which sparked a protest by some of the affected candidates and parents on Monday. There had also been calls for the postponement of the poll to a later date to allow the students exercise their rights to vote. But the national commissioner, who spoke through the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Sam Olumekun, said INEC had given adequate notification on the date for the election prior to the date fixed for the examinations. He explained, “It is important to draw your attention to the fact that INEC gave notice of this election on March 2, 2016. There was no registration for WASSCE candidates as of that time.” The INEC boss noted that the commission had held a robust discussion with the examination body and security agencies on the issue, where it was agreed that the examination should be moved to Ondo and Delta states, as holding it simultaneously may create security challenges. Yakubu said, “The issue is, basically, security. So, the security agencies advised WAEC accordingly that giving room for people to move around may pose some challenges because many people will cash in on the situation. “Permit me to remind you also that there are about 1.9 million registered voters ‎in Edo State, whose interest also should be taken care of. At the end of that meeting, we agreed that the exams be shifted outside Edo State to places that are nearby.” “Indeed, WAEC had even concluded arrangements to do this. It suggested Ore, Agbor and one other place. Yes, there might be some inconveniences for the students to travel outside Edo State; but, of course, it is not too much pain to bear if you have your state at heart.” “I do not think we need to suspend an election because WAEC is going to conduct GCE. It is not SSCE but GCE for those who did not do well in the past exams‎,” the INEC chairman added.

Sallah: FG declares Monday, Tuesday public holidays September 8, 2016

The Federal Government has declared Monday and Tuesday respectively as public holidays to mark the Eid-el-Kabir celebration. Making the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government, the Minister of Interior, Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (retd.), enjoined all Muslim faithful and Nigerians in general to support President Muhammadu Buhari “in his sustained efforts to diversify the economy and progressively accelerate the pace of economic recovery.” A statement on Wednesday in Abuja by the acting Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Alhaji Muhammadu Maccido, said Dambazau noted that the government was aware of the present economic challenges confronting the nation following the downturn in oil prices. The minister, according to the statement, assured Nigerians that appropriate steps were being taken to address the challenges, through revitalising the agricultural sector, the ‘Youth Empowerment Scheme’ in Information and Communication Technology, the ‘Change Begins with Me’, a value re-orientation programme and other social intervention programmes, as well as through massive capital release all aimed at stimulating the economy towards the path of growth and recovery. It said, “The minister expresses optimism that the present economic difficulties will soon be over and therefore urges all to continue to support the government towards building a new formidable Nigeria where peace, unity, security and sustainable development are guaranteed. He wishes all Nigerians, a happy Eid-el-Kabir celebration.”

Edo election: INEC to announce position on postponement today September 8, 2016

The Independent Electoral Commission will announce its position on calls for the postponement of the Edo State governorship election, it has been gathered. The Department of State Services and the Nigerian Police Force had on Wednesday called for the postponement of the election as a result of threats by insurgents and extremists to cause mayhem. INEC, which expressed shock at the call, said it would meet with the NPF and the DSS to decide if it would go ahead with the election, which is scheduled to take place on Saturday. The National Chairman, Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu, said this during a meeting with political parties and other relevant stakeholders in Benin, the Edo State capital, on Wednesday. Some of the stakeholders, who spoke during the meeting with the INEC chairman, were divided over the call for the postponement of the poll. Yakubu explained that though the electoral umpire was set for the election, having prepared for the poll in the last six months, the concern raised by the security agencies was one that would not allow the commission to take a definitive decision. The INEC chairman added, “I said when we met earlier today (Wednesday) that out of the 14 activities outlined for the conduct of the Edo election, based on the calendar and schedule of activities, we successfully concluded 12 of the activities. “Only two are outstanding – end of campaign, which is scheduled for tomorrow (Thursday), and then, the election, scheduled for Saturday. As far as the commission is concerned, we have taken every step necessary for the success of Edo election on September 10. “But towards the end of the meeting, the news broke that the security agencies are advising the commission to consider postponing the election because of the credible evidence of threat available to the security agencies. “The commission will return and take a decision and this will be communicated. We have consulted with you just as we need to consult with the security agencies to find out more and then, take a decision thereafter. “Whatever the case, the commission will take a decision swiftly and communicate it to the Nigerian public.” Sources within the commission said it would announce its position on the election on Thursday (today). The Peoples Democratic Party, which also expressed surprise at the call for the postponement of the election, insisted that it must go on as scheduled. The party said it was taken aback by the “advice” by the security agencies, especially coming a day after President Muhammadu Buhari attended a mega rally of his party, the All Progressives Congress, in Benin City, which it said was concluded without any hitch. A statement by the spokesperson for the National Caretaker Committee of the party, Mr. Dayo Adeyeye, described the action of the DSS and the police as funny going by the fact that the commission conducted a by-election in war-torn Borno State. Adeyeye said, “It is therefore lamentable to hear from these same security agencies that election cannot be held in a state where, in less than 24 hours, the President and all the APC leaders and members had an uninterrupted rally. “We are equally counting on INEC not to succumb to this false alarm by acting independently and holding the election as scheduled.”

Why None Of Funke Akindele’s Siblings Or Her Parents Attended Her Wedding To JJC Skillz

Even ift hey don’t agree with you on the choice of man you choose to spend the rest of your life with, every woman wants to feel a little like a princess on her wedding day. If your family doesn’t turn up, it’s hard to pretend you’re a princess – and even harder to hide your humiliation. Believe me, their deliberate absence definitely tarnishes everything. So, while Funke Akindele’s wedding to music star, Abdulrasheed Bello aka JJC Skillz, may have been a secret affair among the families, their union was definitely missing one magical ingredient: her mother’s blessing. Reports have it that the wedding which was held on Thursday, August 24, in the UK had few family mémbers on hand. Though a few of the singer’s family members, including his daughter, were said to have been there, only Funke’s sister was present to stand-in as the family for her. Funke’s mother apparently kept her distance due to her long-standing disapproval of Funke’s new relationship. It was reported that Funke Akindele’s family and particularly her mother were strongly against her marriage to JJC Skillz, who, they believe has the same profile as that of Funke’s first husband, Alhaji Kehinde Almaroof Oloyede. Funke Akindele’s first husband, Alhaji Almaroof has several children from 3 – 4 women, just like her supposed current husband who is said to have three children from three women. Who knows if the Akindeles were even invited. But no matter who snubbed who, I can tell you no one likes to feel disapproved of, particularly on the day when you should feel most special. The new Mrs Bello may have put a brave face on it, but beneath the immaculate make-up, I know she will still have been smarting.

I can’t stop Buhari from seeking re-election –Obasanjo

Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has denied an online report quoting him as saying that he had warned President Muhammadu Buhari not to seek re-election in 2019. The report, which was credited to him through his former Chief Press Secretary, Alex Nwokedi, in an on-line publication, Post Nigeria, dated September 3, 2016, claiming that Obasanjo had warned President Muhammadu Buhari against seeking re-election in 2019. But Obasanjo has described the report as “completely false and destructive by those behind it.” The former President, in a statement issued by his media aide, Kehinde Akinyemi, in Abeokuta on Sunday, said there has been no communication between him and Nwokedi in the last three years, and wondered why any news would be attributed to him, as published by the on-line publication. The statement read in part, “My belief is that democracy allows for anybody including President Buhari for that matter to contest any election and it is the prerogative rights of Nigerians to vote or not to vote for them. “I have not communicated with Alex in the last three years, so how could a story be credited to me when I did not authorise such or communicated with him in the last three years?” Obasanjo said he could not even stop any of his children not to seek elective post, because that was part of the freedom of democracy. It read further, “I condemn in the highest manner the story and those behind it. And for those behind it, they are simply enemies of democracy and freedom of expression.” Obasanjo said that he was still committed to the peace and progress of the country’s democratic development. He assured Nigerians that with patience, the current democratic experience would bring relief to the masses

Sallah forces Reps to postpone resumption

7I The House of Representatives has postponed by one week its anticipated resumption, The PUNCH learnt in Abuja on Sunday. This also implies that the expected action of the 360-member legislature on the budget padding allegations levelled against the Speaker, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, and three other principal officers, will be delayed by at least one week. The other three are the Deputy Speaker, Mr. Yussuff Lasun; the Chief Whip, Mr. Alhassan Ado-Doguwa; and the Minority Leader, Mr. Leo Ogor. Lawmakers proceeded on their annual recess on July 20 and were scheduled to reconvene on September 13. Findings by The PUNCH showed on Sunday that the resumption date had been postponed by one week due to the forthcoming Eid-el Kabir festivities. A senior National Assembly official stated on Sunday, “The Sallah proper will be on Monday, September 12, just one day to the original resumption date. “Taken that the Federal Government will naturally declare Monday and Tuesday (September 13) as public holidays to mark the Sallah, it is no longer feasible for the House to reconvene on September 13. “We are now looking at a date from Tuesday, September 20.” Meanwhile, a former Deputy Minority Whip of the House, Mr. Garba Dhatti, confirmed to The PUNCH on Sunday that the resumption would be delayed by “three weeks.” Dhatti, who is still a serving member, stated, “The end of recess will now be up to three weeks (September 20). “It has to be after Sallah, which you know is Monday (September 12).” The development came as the Chief Whip of the 7th House (2011-2015), Mr. Ishaka Bawa, told The PUNCH that there was “nothing abnormal” for Dogara and other principal officers to receive higher allocations for intervention or constituency projects in the 2016 budget. Bawa said in every budget year, principal officers were allocated higher votes for projects in line with a “parliamentary tradition in practice over the years.” Citing the instance of the 7th Assembly, where he was the fourth highest-ranked principal officer, Bawa disclosed that each of the 10 principal officers received higher project allocations according to their ranks. He also confirmed that all the principal officers had higher project votes than those he called “floor members.” Bawa added, “As a principal officer in the 7th Assembly, the funds allocated for my projects were higher than that of Dogara, who was a ‘floor member’ at the time. “Dogara was a floor member. Even as the Chairman, Committee on House Services, the funds for his projects were nothing compared to that of the least-ranked principal officer. “Principal officers got their allocations pro-rata. They then identified the projects which were domiciled in the relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies for execution. “Every member knows that this has been the practice and the 8th Assembly principal officers have done nothing new.” According to Bawa, the allocations of Dogara and the other three principal officers in the 2016 budget are not padding “so long as they were contained in the budget that was considered, passed by the National Assembly and signed into the law by Mr. President.” Bawa, a lawyer, argued that the padding allegations could “only be sustained if there is proof that the money (N40bn) was added to the budget after the National Assembly passed it and on its way to the President’s office.” A former Chairman, Committee on Appropriation, Mr. Abdulmumin Jibrin, had alleged that the Speaker, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, and three other principal officers requested the inclusion of N40bn projects in the 2016 budget, besides sundry projects in sums ranging from N20bn to N30bn. He claimed that his refusal to oblige the four principal officers and his opposition to several alleged financial infractions were responsible for his sacking by Dogara on July 20. The leadership of the House denied the alleged padding, saying all insertions into the budget followed the “due process of legislation and budgeting.” However, it said Jibrin’s allegations would be investigated internally by the Committee on Ethics and Privileges after the House would have reconvened on the initially fixed September 13. The police, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption are already investigating the allegations. Jibrin had petitioned the agencies and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission as well as the Department of State Services. Also on Sunday, Jibrin suggested how the budgeting process and other finances of the House could be reformed to plug alleged loopholes for “fraud.” Jibrin said he made the submissions to the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption during his visit to the body in Abuja on Wednesday last week. He said he told the committee, which is chaired by Prof. Itse Sagay, that the legislature was abusing its power of appropriation and should be stopped. Jibrin suggested that copies of the budget should always be circulated to all members while the highlights and the details must be considered together by lawmakers. He added, “The most important reform here is to ensure that budget estimates and details are returned to the floor of the House at the same time for passage. “This will check the insertions by some standing committee chairmen and principal officers in the process of budget passage. On the internal finances of the House, Jibrin said such funds should be made public so that Nigerians could follow the spending pattern of lawmakers

We’ll soon arrest abductors of Rivers oil workers – Police

The Rivers State Police Command said on Saturday that its men were closing in on the kidnappers of 14 oil workers in the Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of the state. The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Nnamdi Omoni, explained that the men of the Rivers Police Command had been combing different parts of the areas in Omoku, where the victims were suspected to have been held hostage. On Friday, a group of armed men suspected to be kidnappers at about 12.20pm waylaid a Toyota Coaster bus conveying 14 employees of Port Harcourt-based Nestoil. The victims’ bus was stopped along Omoku-Elele Road and immediately driven to a nearby bush. The vehicle was conveying the oil workers to Port Harcourt when they were seized by the gunmen. Sunday PUNCH gathered that the oil workers were led into the bush by their captors. Omoni, who spoke with our correspondent in a telephone interview on Saturday, said some items were recovered by security operatives. He said journalists would be addressed about the items recovered by police officers, whom he said had been combing the bush since the incident happened. Omoni added that the vehicle conveying the oil workers had been recovered. He said, “We have stepped up the manhunt for the kidnappers and we are closing in on them. We have recovered the vehicle. A lot of things have been recovered and our men have been combing the bush. But very soon, the victims will be rescued. “Our aim is to rescue the victims and also apprehend those behind their abduction.” Efforts by our correspondent to speak with an official of the oil company was futile as his mobile phone was switched off as of the time of this report

Nigerians vow to fight fuel price hike

John Ameh, Fidelis Soriwei, Friday Olokor,Adelani Adepegba and Okechukwu Nnodim The Nigeria Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress, Afenifere, former federal lawmakers, security experts and rights activists, on Saturday vowed to resist any attempt by the President Muhammadu Buhari’s government to further increase fuel price. They stated this in separate interviews with SUNDAY PUNCH against the background that former and present bosses of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, expressed fears that the current pump price of N145 per litre, was no longer feasible. Past and present Group Managing Directors of the NNPC, unanimously declared on Saturday that the current N145 per litre price of fuel was no longer realistic. They said the amount does not correspond with the price determining components of the commodity and the fluctuations of the foreign exchange rate. They stated this after a one-day meeting they held with the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, in Abuja. The NNPC in its statement said, “They (the GMDs) noted that the petrol price of N145/litre is not congruent with the liberalisation policy especially with the foreign exchange rate and other price determining components such as crude cost, Nigerian Ports Authority charges, etc remaining uncapped.” The declaration of the NNPC present and past bosses confirmed an exclusive report by SUNDAY PUNCH on August 7, 2016, in which oil marketers revealed that the actual or real cost of petrol was N151.87 when all the pricing components are adequately captured. The marketers had stated that they were struggling to maintain petrol price at N145 per litre because of the stiff competition in the downstream oil sector, but stressed that the practice was not sustainable. The GMDs, however, commended the NNPC for resolving the fuel supply crisis and urged the corporation to come up with measures that will ensure sustenance of seamless supply of petroleum products nationwide. According to the corporation, the GMDs expressed concerns about the declining crude oil production level and its consequences on the environment and the nation’s revenue. They further agreed that if the current situation remains unchecked, it could lead to the crippling of the corporation and the nation’s oil and gas sector which is the mainstay of the Nigerian economy. However, the Nigeria Labour Congress on Saturday warned the President Muhammadu Buhari administration not to contemplate any further increase in the pump price of petroleum products in the country The General Secretary of the NLC, Dr. Peter Ozo-Eson, who stated this in an interview with SUNDAY PUNCH, said Nigerians would not accept further fuel price increment. Ozo-Eson had warned the government earlier this week against increasing the pump price of petroleum products in the country. Ozo-Eson said that it was also up to Nigerians to decide whether to allow being subjected to the incessant increase in the fuel pump price or not. He said, “We had given a warning before that Nigerians cannot take any further increase, that they shouldn’t do it. “That remains our position, and if they go ahead and do it, it is up to Nigerians to say how they want to respond to it. But we remain opposed to any new increase in the price of petroleum product.” Also the President of the Trade Union Congress, Bala Kaigama, warned government not to take Nigerians for granted because there was no paliatiative in place. He said, “Nigerians have been taken for granted a couple of times by the Buhari’s government but things would be different this time around. We would fight this modern day slavery.” The National Publicity Secretary of Afenifere, Yinka Odumakin, said the masses would resist the hike. “There is a limit to which you can tax poverty, it is only prosperity you can continue to make demands on. “If you are unable to provide an enabling environment for people to improve their lives and you continue to tax them wantonly, you risk the rage of the poor,” he said. On his part, a Second Republic lawmaker, Junaid. Mohammed said, “I am highly suspicious about NNPC GMD’s coming up with this suggestion now. Are they saying Nigerians have not suffered enough?” The Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative and Advocacy Centre: Awual Musa Rafsanjani, said, the Buhari government was taking Nigerians for granted. “This government must not take Nigerians for granted,” he said. Also a security consultant, Ben Okezie, said the government was pushing Nigerians to the brink with the planned fuel hike, noting that Buhari may be forced out of power, if he was not careful

Some people say I got successful through diabolical means –Odunlade Adekola

Yoruba actor, Odunlade Adekola, is waxing stronger everyday and it seems some people are still amazed how he was able to get to this height. Interestingly, not just a few feel he must have visited a ‘babalawo’ (native doctor), who would have performed some sacrifices for him, which automatically boosted Adekola’s career. And indeed, the actor, in a chat with Saturday Beats recently, affirmed that some people actually have such perception about his success. “I never knew I would be successful as an actor; my belief has always been that God should elevate me in my endeavours. I always prayed that God should make me a successful person. “Some people say that I used voodoo or metaphysical powers to be successful. I hear when they say such but I tell everyone that I can never do such. During the graduation of my students last year, I addressed this issue because it was during that time people were peddling rumours of my demise. When the rumour of my death hit town, some people said that I did ‘jazz’ to be successful. That was why during the graduation of my students last year, I said it in public that if I had ever thought of doing ‘jazz’ to succeed God should make me lose everything I had ever worked for. “I hear these comments but they do not move me at all. I am a writer, director, producer and an actor. It is normal for people to talk but it has never upset me.” The actor told Saturday Beats that he has always been a funny actor since the beginning of his career in his church. He said although people loved his performances, he never thought of making it a career. “I started acting in church when I was a kid. When I was in church, I was like Baba Suwe, whenever I mounted the stage, people would start laughing. A lot of people really loved me but I did not really have interest in acting. “There was a friend of mine, Tunde, who also acted. He told an actor about me and the man asked to see me. When I got there, the man asked me to act for him and ever since then, I never stopped acting. I later joined the man’s acting group and that was how I started. This happened in 1996,” Adekola added. Meanwhile, the actor recently added another feather to his cap as he received a prestigious award, Afro-Heritage Broadcasting and Entertainment Award, in the US. He said the award was given to him alongside other prominent Nigerians because of his contribution to the Nigerian movie industry. “I bagged an award in Houston, Texas and I was given the award because of my role in the movie industry and all the things I have done to uplift the industry."

2bags of rice=2children. Naija is better

An unidentified middle-aged man, Wednesday, abducted two siblings, who were returning from extra-moral class in Satellite area of Lagos. Thereafter, he exchanged them for two bags of rice in a shop at 63, Marwa Road, near Chemist Bus Stop. The children are aged eight and 13. It was gathered that at the shop, the abductor told the sales girl that he would like to take two bags of rice to the mother of the children, whom he claimed owned a restaurant close- by, to ascertain whether the rice was the brand she needed. Speaking with Vanguard last night, owner of the shop, Mrs Silverline, explained that “he (the abductor) told my sales girl that the mother of the children needed Indian rice, but my sales girl told him that what we had was Brazilian rice and that it was good. “Thereafter, he made a phone call to someone he claimed was the mother of the children and at the end said he would like to take the bags of rice to the woman. But my girl insisted on following him to collect the money for the bags (N40,000) should the woman agree to buy them. “The stranger said he would ride on a motorcycle with the bags of rice, while my girl followed with the children on foot. But on reaching the purported restaurant, the owner said she never saw any one with bags of rice, neither did she admit knowing the children.“They walked to Ijegun end of Satellite without any sight of the abductor. When we asked the children about him, they said that the abductor was not their father.” An eyewitness, Ifeoma John, said that immediately the abductor left with the bags of rice, a man who claimed to be the biological father of the children, arrived, alleging that his children could have been hypnotised by the abductor. He contacted policemen from Satellite Division, who took everyone involved to the station, from where the children were released to their parents.

I won’t burden Edo with taxes – Obaseki

The All Progressives Congress governorship candidate in Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has assured the people of the state that his envisaged administration will introduce a tax regime that is pocket-friendly. In a press release issued by the Godwin Obaseki Campaign Organisation in Benin, the Edo State capital, On Wednesday, the governorship candidate noted that it was important to enhance the internally generated revenue base of the state, even as he vowed not to yoke the people with unbearable taxes. “Bearing in mind our economic development initiatives which we will commence immediately upon assuming office and recognising the role of taxation in development, we will implement a pocket-friendly regime to grow the tax base,” he stressed. Obaseki noted that as a financial expert with international recognition, he was best suited to govern Edo State.

BREAKING: Nigeria officially in recession, GDP growth drops to -2.06%

The National Bureau of Statistics on Wednesday released the much-awaited Gross Domestic Product figures for the second quarter of 2016 with the GDP growth rate sliding further from -0.36 per cent in the first quarter to -2.06 per cent year-on-year. The negative growth rate recorded in the second quarter of this year is a confirmation of the predictions by the Federal Government and economists that the country was heading into recession. A recession is defined as a significant decline in activities across the economy, lasting longer than a few months. It is visible in industrial production, employment, real income and wholesale retail trade. The technical indicator of a recession is two consecutive quarters of negative economic growth as measured by a country’s GDP. In the GDP report released by the NBS, the bureau said, “In the second quarter of 2016, the nation’s Gross Domestic Product declined by -2.06 per cent (year-on- year) in real terms. “This was lower by 1.70 per cent points from the growth rate of –0.36 per cent recorded in the preceding quarter, and also lower by 4.41 per cent points from the growth rate of 2.35 per cent recorded in the corresponding quarter of 2015. Quarter on quarter, real GDP increased by 0.82 per cent.”

Boko Haram Is Ready For Peace, To Make BIG Announcement About Chibok Girls In The Next 24hrs – Aisha Wakil Says

Lawyer with the National Human Rights Commission and wife of a Judge in Borno State judiciary, Aisha Wakil, who was recently declared wanted by the Nigerian Army for her close links with Boko Haram members, says the terrorist group is ready for peace now and may make a big announcement about the kidnapped Chibok school girls within the next 24 hours. This comes few days after President Buhari said his government was ready to negotiate with genuine Boko Haram leaders for the release of the missing school girls. According to the Nation, Wakil in an interview said after she has been cleared by the Nigerian Army and that she has been persuading the leader of the sect group to negotiate with the Nigerian government for the release of the girls that have been in their captivity for over two years now “Since I came back, I have been on their neck. They have now agreed to come out and discuss with the government and bring back the girls. I am for the Chibok girls and all the captives. They are ready for peace. This is what they told me. I think they might post some information on YouTube within 24 hours”she said

Enjoy this track from the YBNL Boss

High School Basketball Player Says He Didn't Know He Was 29 Years Old

Recently Jonathan Nicola made headlines, and not for being an excellent high school basketball player.

It was discovered that the 29-year-old man was masquerading as a 17-year-old high school student and playing for Catholic Central High School in Canada. Now the 6'9 man is saying he wasn't aware that he was 29. According to the Toronto Star, Nicola's mother kept telling him different ages throughout his life. "I always keep asking what is the specific age that I was born, and she has told me that she could not remember," Nicola said. "Over (in South Sudan) not every year we study, we always keep moving to different schools, and over there, they do no ask your age. They do not ask you nothing.

 Nicola went on to say that his main goal was to get a good education so he could provide for his family at some point."I am not a liar person," Nicola continued. "I am religious. I pray to God ... If something bad happen to me here, I do not know what would happen to my mother back home because she is really sick. She has diabetes. I did not came  here to harm any people or do something bad. All my goal is to study and get the education, so I can go back home, I can help my mother, I can help all the rest of my family."

It all stems from a man Nicola named as "Coach Steyn" who helped him get Canada. There's no additional details about his whereabouts at the moment, but he was said to have completed the necessary paperwork for Nicola to get to Canada."He [Coach Steyn] did the whole papers," Nicola said in a hearing. "He did everything."

Nicola's student visa application and passport says he was born November 25, 1998, but when his fingerprints provided at Canada Border Services Agency match a man with the same name that was born November 1, 1986.

 Nicola is hoping to just get sent back home, saying that this was not his fault. He apologized to his high school coach and those involved for having put them through this."Please if you let me, send me back home, it would be much more better for me and for my family and for my mental health," Nicola said.

 His request was ultimately denied by adjudicator Valerie Currie. She believes he knew all along of his age and took an opportunity to fool those involved so he could get to Canada."I understand your desire to do that, but the way you have gone about doing that is frankly, quite illegal," Currie said.


Nicola's next hearing is set for May 24.

Boko Haram

Boko Haram is a terrorist organization with its roots in northeastern Nigeria, linked to insurgency stemming from north Cameroon, Chad and Niger. "Boko Haram" is a Hausa name which translates roughly as "Western education is forbidden", while the real Arabic name translates as "The Congregation of the People of Tradition for Proselytism and Jihad".

The sect was founded in 2002 by the late Mohammed Yusuf who was captured and executed by the Nigerian security forces in 2009. Until the government clamped down on the sect’s activities in 2009, the operations conducted by the sect were more or less peaceful. Since Abubakar Shekau, a former deputy to Yusuf’s era.

 The sect seeks to establish a "pure" Islamic state ruled by Sharia, putting a stop to what it deems
 Westernization. It proposes that interaction with the Western world is forbidden, and also supports opposition to the Muslim establishment and the government of Nigeria. The group is known for attacking Christians, Muslim clerics and government targets, as well as for bombing churches, mosques, schools and police stations.

The group is also notorious for kidnappings. The violence linked to the Boko Haram insurgency has resulted in an estimated 20,000 deaths between 2002 and 2015. On November 13, 2013, the United States government designated the group a terrorist organization. On May 22, 2014, the United Nations Security Council added Boko Haram to its list of designated al-Qaeda entities, bringing "funding, travel and weapons sanctions" against the terrorist group.

On the same day Boko Haram was officially declared a terrorist group affiliated to al-Qaeda and al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb. International sanctions including assets' freeze, travel ban and arms embargo are imposed against the Islamist extremist group. It was reported in August 2013 that Abubakar Shekau, the leader of Boko Haram, had been shot and deposed by members of his sect, but he survived. He has taken responsibility for the April 2014 kidnapping of over 200 school girls in Chibok, Borno state, Nigeria.

Funding sources for Boko Haram are not certain, but is believed to be partially funded by bank robberies and by other Islamist groups.

Religious Differences To Happen In These States

A serious religious grievances may occur in Nigeria if proper attention is not paid to as claimed by the Nigeria's intelligence community.

According to reliable sources, the immimemt crisis is sectionalized on a politically motivated ground. In respect to this, the nation's unity is about to be shacked in the wake of recent killing of Christianity by Muslims in the north.

The states involved includes: The Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Niger, Kaduna, Kano, Nasarawa, Plateau and Benue states.

It has also been  confirmed that the high rate of arms and ammunitions that has been inferred in some key areas of Abuja and the remaining six states identified.

In the space of one week, there were two different attacks on Christians in the northern region of the country, which includes the wife of a pastor and a catholic church under siege during both incidents

Reactions from the Christians based on these recent attacks urged the secretary of CAN in person of Reverend Musa Asake to reveal that there might be a grand plan to wipe out the followers of Jesus Christ from the country.

After Winning Edo, We Will Go For Entire South-East, South-South – APC Chairman Boasts

The leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress has boasted about winning the entire South-east and South-south regions.
The All Progressives Congress, APC has kicked off the gubernatorial election campaign in Edo State for its flagbearer, Godwin Obaseki in high spirits and high hopes.
The honourable National Chairman of the APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun has expressed his expectation of the party of change to win maximum control of the South-East and South-South after emerging as winners in the September 10 election in Edo State.

“We are going to bring our brothers in the South East and South-South into our fold after the Edo governorship election,” the Edo native boasted according to DailyPost.
Speaking at the weekend while inaugurating the party’s National Campaign Council on the Edo election, Oyegun averred that the Edo election is “important, crucial and will be a very great signpost” for the party, adding that their “job is to ensure that Edo State is safe­ly in the hands of the APC.”

He continued:-

“Once that is done, then we will venture out to bring home our broth­ers in the South East and in the South-South to join this great crusade to salvage our nation, to establish a new way of doing things; to establish new ethics, to let our people know that there is a difference between right and wrong, to change this country from the trajectory, on a permanent basis; we are already in it, to change it irreversibly from the destructive trajectory into which it was plunged.
“So, my charge to this com­mittee, the campaign council, made up of very eminent leaders of this party, each one special­ly chosen for this assignment, is not that they should deliver Edo State. It is a lot more than that. It is that they should deliv­er Edo State with a margin that tells the whole story. So, as you get down to your assignment, consider also that it is in a sense a mid-term election.
“So, it is an election that is important to us that we win very convincingly, not just win, but win convincingly. So, my charge to you is to go out there in a co­ordinated, close working rela­tionship with the local election committee to strategise, raise the resources, talk to whosoever is necessary to talk to, some of the details of which, of course, we will discuss at a very first meet­ing to ensure that the kind of victory that our party deserves is in fact recorded,” the APC chairman stated.

Striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic Says He Hill Be ‘God Of Manchester United’

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has revealed that he will be ‘God of Manchester United’ after Old Trafford legend, Eric Cantona claimed to be the only ‘king’ of the 20 times Premier League champions.

Ibrahimovic was welcomed to Manchester United by Cantona who told him that they can be only one ‘king’ at the club.
The Swedish striker famously said “I came like a king, I left like a legend,” after his departure from Paris Saint-Germain.
After his signing for United, Ibrahimovic was welcomed by Cantona with a video message.

“I have a personal message for Zlatan: You decided to go red. It is the best choice you ever made,” Cantona said.

“When you walk into the Theatre of Dreams. When you can feel the ghosts of the legends that have been here before.

“When you score that first goal right in front of Stretford End. When you hear the crowd chanting your name.

“When your heart beats so strong that it bursts out of your chest. When you feel that you will love them as much as they will love you.
“You will know, my friend, that you finally made it home.

JAMB Admission Recommendation Status For Admission Exercise 2016/2017

The Joint Admission And Matriculation Board, JAMB has enabled and open the portal for Admission Recommendation Status For Admission Screening Exercise for 2016/2017 Academic Session, Check where you have been posted for admission.

JAMB Portal To Check the Institution Candidates Have Been Posted For 2016 Admission, As promised by the Joint Admission And Matriculation Board (JAMB),
the portal for candidates to determine the institution they have been posted for 2016 admission has been enabled.

Candidates can actually check the institutions they have been posted for 2016 admission.

The portal is yet to be made official on its website, which goes to show that the candidates details are still being uploaded.
So if you check and it does not display your details, you can always check back.

How To Check JAMB Admission Recommendation Status For Admission Screening Exercise 2016/2017

Check where you have been posted for admission.

1. Visit the JAMB Admission Recommendation Status For Admission Screening Exercise 2016/2017 portal at http://jamb.org.ng/postregistrationefacility/CheckAdmissionRecommendationStatus.aspx?id=82903797-C2A2-44C3-B1D6-5EE46DCCDDFD.
2.  On the JAMB Admission Recommendation Status page, fill in your JAMB Registration Number in the provided field.
3. Click on the Submit button “Check where you have been posted for admission” to access the details.

Drogba: True leader Ronaldo deserves Ballon d'Or

The 31-year-old was key for Real Madrid and Portugal as they both tasted European success this year and the ex-Chelsea man feels he should be named the world's best player

Didier Drogba believes that Cristiano Ronaldo deserves to win a fourth Ballon d'Or this year due to the success that he has enjoyed with Real Madrid and Portugal.
The 31-year-old ended an impressive campaign with a Champions League crown with Madrid before going on to win Euro 2016 with the national team - their first-ever major international title.
The forward is the favourite to be crowned the player of the year for 2016 as a result of his fine performances, And Drogba, who currently plays in MLS with Canadian side Montreal Impact, feels that Ronaldo has shown himself to be a good leader and hopes that he wins the prize for a fourth time.
"I played against Cristiano in the Champions League final in 2008; he won with Manchester United against Chelsea," Drogba told AS. "He is a true leader and he deserves the Ballon d'Or for the great work he has done for Real Madrid and Portugal. Although he could not play the whole Euro 2016 final, he was the biggest reason that his team got there."

Madrid are using Montreal Impact's facilities to train as they prepare for the Internaitonal Champions Cup and Drogba feels that the club can learn from such a "prestigious" club.
"It is very important for Montreal Impact that Real Madrid train here, given the history of the club," he said. "It is important to see how such an important team works.

"I've played many times against Real Madrid. I faced them with Marseille and Galatasaray. I also played against coach Zinedine Zidane.

"Real Madrid is a massive, highly prestigious club. It is an honor to have them here."

All You Need To Know About WINThrillsnetwork (WIN)
No doubt WINThrillsnetwork is one of the best in providing
online job opportunities out there.  But some people still
find it hard to maximize opportunities the WIN company is
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the WIN network is actually about and the uncut truth of
how winthrillsnetwork. com make money from their
advertising services.

So What Is The Full meaning Of WIN?
WIN stands for Web Income Nigeria. The website is only a
part or a brother platform for the Mandee Thrills LTD
company services which includes digital advertising,
hosting services, online marketing, online trading and it
goes on as far as any online business you can think of. .
they are all into it. It turns out that the owner of the
company is actually a Nigerian (Michael Rotimi Richards)
born and raised in the UK.  So the WIN platform is simply a
segment of what the Mandee Thrlls company is into.

Is Winthrills A Scam?
No! The platform provides legit services to its customers
and also to its partners. The truth is scam businesses cant
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even come across any scam website, give them a few
weeks and they'll be out of the internet and out of business.
The WIN platform has been in business for more than 3
years now and all they provide is awesome digital
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this because I am a WIN customer/advertiser and
promoter.

What Services Does WINThrills Offer?
Winthrillsnetwork. com is an Advertising Network that
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2010, online marketers have depended on the WIN
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online and the promoters who are eager to generate
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Connecting Promoters and Advertisers in WIN's Social
Network Advertising
With social network targeting, WIN utilizes its extensive
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So could It be said that the WIN advertising network is
strictly for Nigerians?.
No!!!,. .  I have a friend in Lagos who says he is a staff of
the WIN website.  He said that the WIN platform has
hundreds of staff working in Nigeria. . and they are all
working from their homes.  He said as a support staff, he
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going through updates and guidelines as regarding the WIN
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it isnt easy working for WIN. He also said most of the WIN
consistent clients are actually foreigners. . . Most of who
want to get their products in front of Nigerians.  And he said
they are paid alot to do that.  However, the promoters on
the WIN platform are strictly Nigerians.  So it could be said
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Lets get to the Fun part. .
I am a member of the WIN network.  Been a member for
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